During New York's brief fling with spring last weekend, a Park Slope blogger had a rather revolting experience with a mobile Italian ice vendor in Prospect Park. After the vendor sold her friend a pineapple flavor ice instead of the requested vanilla, he strolled happily away, only belatedly realizing that it was the wrong order. So after a few licks he returned it to the vendor, who gladly accepted the slightly-eaten serving and returned it to the source: the communal pineapple ice bucket from whence it came! It's the Ciiiircle of Ice! Blogger F'd in Park Slope rants: more ›

Did none of these suggestions solve the intractable problem of Valentine's Day for you? Well, your looming V-Day troubles are over: Philly's favorite Rita's Water Ice (snowcones, fro-yo, etc.) will be opening their first NYC location on the 14th, and all visitors for the first week will get a free ice. Cheap date! We'd go with the black cherry, but can someone go and let us know what Swedish Fish® Sweet Tea tastes like? [Via Grub Street] more ›

Mercadito Cantina: This is newest advance in the expanding Mercadito empire; besides the original Alphabet City Mercadito there’s also Mercadito Grove. This one is not far from the original, on Avenue B, and packs a lot of Mexican fixings into a dainty space that stays open ‘til 1 a.m. The main action here is at the make your own taco bar, where heavy rollers can choose from eight guacamoles and ten salsas, all made from organic and locally sourced ingredients. Most of the meat – which includes organic chicken, grass-fed beef, and Berkshire pork – is wrapped in maguey leaves before they're baked. For libations, try the 'Tric-quila', a sake-based tequila substitute. Photo via Thrillist, who has the menu. 172 Ave B, (212) 388-1750. more ›